Stevenage hosted Cambridge United in the big derby in League Two on Saturday. Read on for Layth Yousif's match report.

Luke Wilkinson of Stevenage plays a long pass in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO

Cambridge won the big derby in League Two on Saturday after beating Stevenage 1-0 at the Lamex in a hard-fought match.

Andronicos Georgiou of Stevenage battles with Reggie Lambe of Cambridge United in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO

A first half goal from former Liverpool academy youngster David Amoo in front of 2,998 fans was enough to seal only the second win of the season for the U’s.

Andronicos Georgiou of Stevenage is crowded out by Cambridge United players in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO

Stevenage made eight changes from the side that beat Swansea City U23s 5-0

Danny Newton of Stevenage shows sublime touch to control a ball dropping over his shoulder in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO

Andronicos Georgiou, Joel Byrom and Danny Newton were the Boro players to keep their places from the impressive rout over the young Swans on Tuesday.

Andronicos Georgiou of Stevenage chases a ball in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO

Despite a hat-trick there was no place for Kurtis Guthrie who reverted to the bench, along with Ben Kennedy, who grabbed a brace against the Championship outfit.

Alex Revell of Stevenage bites off more than he can chew in a challenge with George Taft of Cambridge United in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO

The Us came into the match with the upper hand in this fixture, with Boro only winning two of their last eight meetings against the Abbey Stadium outfit, with the home side winless in their last four.

Steve Seddon of Stevenage gets in the mix in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO

Cambridge had only failed to score in one of their last four visits to the Lamex, finding the net six times in three games including their emphatic 2-0 defeat over Dino Maamria’s men in one of his early games.

Luther Wildin of Stevenage is tackled by Reggie Lambe of Cambridge United in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO

The derby day defeat against Cambridge last April hurt Maarmia. It was also arguably the catalyst to the charismatic 46-year-old Tunisian signing 15 players over the summer.

Steve Seddon of Stevenage in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO

The number moved to 16 when 20-year-old Steve Seddon was signed on loan from Birmingham City on Thursday in a loan deal that lasts until January and which saw the Blues U23 defender make his league debut for Boro.

Danny Newton of Stevenage goes up for a header with Gary Deegan of Cambridge United in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO

It was to prove a harrowing experience for the raw youngster who was replaced at the break, even if he will be better for the experience.

Andronicos Georgiou of Stevenage challenges Brad Halliday of Cambridge United in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO

Despite losing 2-0 last time out at Yeovil after travelling 600 miles in two visits to the west country in four days, after the hard-fought 0-0 draw at Forest Green Rovers, Stevenage started the day in ninth place.

Manager of Stevenage FC Dino Maamria on the touchline in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO

Cambridge under Joe Dunne had made a poor start, sitting in 21st position. But as everyone knows league standings mean nothing when it comes to derbies.

Paul Farman of Stevenage holds his head after conceding the first goal in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO

A shapeless opening saw giant Luke Wilkinson engaged in a good battle with the visitors well-travelled 35-year-old Islington-born Jabo Ibehre.

Manager of Stevenage FC Dino Maamria on the touchline in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO

The former Orient attacker escaped the Boro backline to fire in a cross for David Amoo to slot home on 16 minutes to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

Andronicos Georgiou of Stevenage challenges Brad Halliday of Cambridge United in the League Two game between Stevenage FC v Cambridge Utd at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture: DANNY LOO

Cambridge could have doubled the lead before the half hour as Amoo beat Ronnie Henry for pace down the right channel before whipping in a cross only to see Reggie Lambe’s header fly over when well-placed.

As referee Paul Marsden blew for half-time the visitors cold argue they had shaded a first 45 minutes high on endeavour and perspiration but low on quality in the final third.

While it was nice to see the club has listened to the pleas of this particular correspondent to provide a cuppa and a pie to humble hacks during the break - following on from the sterling work of others over the years in bringing about this welcome change - the main talking point was the fact the home side looked lethargic.

Boss Maamria who was to declare he was disappointed with the ‘flat’ performance tried his best to lift his men during the interval – along with giant centre-half Scott Cuthbert who appeared to give a rousing speech to his team-mates moments before the restart, alas it was to no avail.

The second period continued in the same vein with honest hard work from both sides played out in front of a good atmosphere generated by both sets of fans.

Lambe’s header half-way through the second half after good work on the right from Amoo narrowly flew past Farman’s goal.

However, as the clock ticked down on Boro’s first home league defeat of the season it was Cambridge who could claim bragging rights in this derby. Again.